Singapore to Give Free Rides for Early Birds

Source: http://bizdaily.com.sg,  17 Apr 2013

Who says there is no such thing as a free ride in the world?

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) said Tuesday it is embarking on a one-year trial of a free pre-peak travel scheme to better spread passenger load on commuter trains in the mornings.

The move is expected to cost the government S$10.0 million.

Early train commuters in Singapore who exit 16 designated Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations in the city area before 7:45 a.m. on weekdays will be able to travel for free from June 24.

The 16 designated stations are Bugis, Chinatown, City Hall, Clarke Quay, Dhoby Ghaut, Lavender, Orchard, Outram Park, Raffles Place, Somerset, Tanjong Pagar, Bayfront, Bras Basah, Esplanade, Marina Bay and Promenade.

However, the point of entry cannot be from any of the 16 stations.

Commuters who arrive at the stations between 7:45 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. will be given a discount of up to 50 S-cents from their train fare.

the Transport Minister said he hopes the trial will generate a 10 to 20 per cent shift in travel demand, adding that there is also room to improve the capacity and frequency of trains further.

Free entry to seven museums for Singaporeans and PRs

From 18 May 2013, citizens and PRs will get free entry into museums and heritage institutions all year round except for special exhibitions. (Source: Straits Times  16 Mar 2013)

AirAsia offers S'pore-Senai bus service

Source: Straits Times  23 Dec 2012

Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia has launched a bus service between Singapore and Senai International Airport in Johor. The buses are operated by Malaysian firm Handal Indah, which is licensed by the authorities on both sides of the Causeway to run cross-border bus services.

All commuters alight at the Woodlands checkpoint for immigration checks. Once they are on Malaysian soil, they hop onto another bus which takes them to Senai airport.

Unlike the service in Singapore, the bus to Senai from the Johor checkpoint is reserved for only AirAsia customers and runs every two hours.

The bus journey to the checkpoint and from there to Senai took about an hour and a half

Giant pandas Jia Jia and Kai Kai make public debut end Nov

Source: todayonline 29 Oct 2012

Giant pandas Jia Jia and Kai Kai will be making their public debut from 29 November at the River Safari.

The exhibit is opening for a special preview in time for the year-end school holiday.

Visitors can meet the giant pandas by purchasing a ticket to the Singapore Zoo and adding a top-up fee of $5 for adults and $3 for children between 3 and 12 years old.

Also on display are a pair of red pandas and golden pheasants.

The tickets will go on sale daily from 8.30am starting 29 November.

New hot spots in Chinatown

In the Oct 14,2012 The Sunday Times report "Hot Spots", it was reported that an explosion of hip bars and restaurants in the streets of Chinatown, from Duxton Hill to Club Street to Ann Siang Hill, has brought vibrance to the area esp on Friday and Saturday nights. 

"So vibrant is the weekend nightlife that patrons can be seen criss-crossing the streets as they hop from one bar to the next, or milling about - with drink in hand - along the meandering roads that connect Jiak Chuan and Keong Saik roads, and Ann Siang Hill to Gemmill Lane. The cool quotient in the four areas - Jiak Chuan Road to Keong Saik Road; Gemmill Lane off Club Street; Club Street to Ann Siang Hill; and Duxton Hill - is sizzling off the charts thanks to a boom in new bars and restaurants over the past year or so.

Among the newcomers to the Chinatown neighbourhood are whisky bar B28 and cocktail bar Bartini on Club Street, kitsch tapas-style restaurant Lolla on Ann Siang, Spanish restaurant Esquina on Jiak Chuan and restaurant-bar Club Street Social at Gemmill Lane. They add to the existing stable of French, Italian and Japanese restaurants, and drinking holes, some of which have been around since the late 1980s." Read more.